Conductive Nonwoven Carbon Nanotube-PLA Composite Nanofibers Towards Wound Sensors via Solution Blow Spinning

Abstract

This paper characterizes the use of the emerging solution blow spinning technique to create conductive carbon nanotube-PLA composite nanofibers. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were combined in various solvents to produce conductive fiber mats. In addition, the authors were able to tune the conductivity of the fiber mats by modifying the MWCNT concentration. Conductive fiber mats were able to reach conductivity values as high as 474 S/cm which is more than 2 × higher than the ubiquitous germanium. Conductive fiber mats will be later used as sensors in wound healing applications. A simple light emitting diode circuit featuring the fiber mat was developed as a proof of concept toward this biomedical sensing application.